Double swing



Jan. 1, 1952 M. w. HUNT 2,580,920

DOUBLE SWING Filed on. 29, 1946 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 M. W. HUNT DOUBLE SWING Jan. 1, 1952 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1946 I ale/w)? W Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED "STATES PATENT foFFIcE i i toiiiiiist Application October 29, 1946, Serial No. 706,411

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a swing and more particularly to a double swing which is also selfpropelled.

In my earlier patent on a swing, Patent No. 2,402,249, issued March 8, 1946, there is disclosed a self-propelled swing of the single-type whereby a child can apply a foot operated means while seated to produce the swinging motion of the swing. This invention constitutes an improvement in the swing described and claimed in my aforementioned patent. More particularly, this invention improves my earlier swing to provide for a swing having a capacity for two children, and whereby each child may contribute to the self-propelling feature of the swing. It

is therefore a major object of this invention to provide an improved swing of the character described wherein two children may swing simultaneously, with each child operating a foot treadleto produce the swinging action.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved self-propelled swing suspended from a crossbar or beam and having a pair of oppositely positioned seats, and wherein a foot operated linkage is provided for driving the swing, and which linkage is at all times during the swinging accessible for operation from either of said seats. I

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved swing of the self-propelled type having a capacity for two children, and in which a foot operated treadle for driving the swing is positioned for operation either by one or two offset from each other to provide for proper clearance'of the driving linkage.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following specification and claim and from the accompanyingdrawings illustrating the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the double swing of this invention with part of the supporting frame broken away;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view taken on line 22 of Figure 1 and showing the connections at the upper part of the swing;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail vie taken on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1; 1

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view takenon line 1-! of Figure 1, and

Figure -8 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken on line B8 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 4 refers generally to the head block or support viewed'from Figure 1, a yoke 5 to which is pivoted. at 6 the rigid connecting link 1. The main support tubes '8 and 9 form a frame and are sus-.

pended in parallel relationship from the'head blockil, being pivoted thereto by means of the.

bolt 10'.

Neal thelower ends of the main support tubes 8 and 9 are fixed by means of a through bolt ll j and spacer l2, a pair of angle iron sections l3 and 14 shown clearly in Figure 4, which extend parallel to eachpther and substantially at right angles tothe main support tubes 8 and 9. To maintain the relationship between the angle irons l3 and I4 and the tubes 8 and 9, there are provided reinforcing sections or braces l5 and I6, shown in Figures 1, 3,- 5 and 6, having their upper ends fastened to a through bolt l1, passing through tubes'8 and 9, and spaced by spacers l8, and their lower ends, respectively, fastened to bolts l9fand 20, passing through the angle irons l3 and [4. The bolt I9 is provided with a spacer-1| and the bolt 20 is provided with a spacer 22. As shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6, the

spacers I8, 2| and?! are so positioned as to hold the reinforcing sections or braces l5 and 16 laterally offset from each other for a purpose 3 irons l3 and I 4 constituting a mount, as by means of the bolts 21.

To the extreme lower ends of the main support tubes 8 and 9 is pivotally mounted at its center a foot treadle bar 28, as by means of a bolt 29 passing through the tubes 8 and 9, the treadle bar 28 being properly held in lateral position by means of the spacers 30, shown in Figure '7. Foot bars 3| and 32 are fixed on the ends of the treadle bar 28 for direct engagement by the feet of occupants seated inthe seats 25 and 25'. A yoke 33 fixed on the treadle bar 28 adjacent one end thereof provides a pivot, by means of a bolt 34, for the lower end of the rigid connectinglink 1. Due to the laterally ofiset relationship of the reinforcing handle bar section 16, as shown in Figure 5, it will not interfere. during swinging with the connecting link I which extends upwardly and intersects the longitudinal axis of the pendulous frame 8, 9, as viewed in Figures 1 nd Since reinforcing handle bar section IQ is latreli y Qfiset o th lef as. riewedi u e 5.. th opposing reinforcing handle bar section islaterally offset to the right, as; viewed in Figure 6 so as to give the appearance of symmetry and to produce a balanced structure, in a transverse direction. Also brace lawill also not interfere with link 7. Itv is to be neted that. the pivotal connectionat 6 between the link I and yoke 5 is positioned'below and offset, as. viewed in Figure 1, from the main swing pivot at ill. This relation enables the swing to, be actuated Without inter-9. ference ninety degrees in either direction from the position of rest shown in Figure 1.. As shown, for the swing to be self-propelling, the yokes 5 and 33 must be on opposite sides of the plane. ofv the pendulous frame 8, 9.

l'he swing is preferably of allsteel construction with the frame members being preferably of tubular construction for lightness and strength. However it is also within the purview of this invention to utilize wood construction, or other, materials, in part, or in toto.,

In view of the use of bolts and spacers at all major points of connection, the swing of this in vention is easily assembled and disassembled. It may be quickly knocked down and shipped in a compact package. After shipment, assembly may be accomplished expeditious yfthe spacers uring, assem ly n. p op r relationship- In operation with the'swing in the rest position shown in Figure 1, a pair of occupants seat themselves in; the seats and 26, respectively,

with the feet engaging footbars; 3| and 32, respectively and with thehandsengaging handle bars 23 and 24, respectively. Then the occupants push alternatelyon the treadle 22. This force is transmitted to. the rigidconnecting rod 1 alternately as a force-of compression and aforce of tension and thenceto the. head block 1 or sup porting member which isin fixed position. Theforeeof reaction. operates the unit swingably and; themaintubes 8 and sewing about the pivot 1.0.. Alarge range of motion is possible with thisarrangement up to ,90, degrees. in either direction.

om. th posit on. of. rest. No. assistano o out! side pushing is necessary to start the. swing-in.

motion, the sole source of power being that produced by the occupants alternately pushing down on the foot treadle.

The construction of the swing is such that only one occupant in either seat can use the swing in a self-propelling manner by pushing down on the treadle at intervals in synchronism with the swinging.

Thus it is seen that a self-propelling double swing has been providedespec-ially adapted for two children at play and wherein each child may contribute his or her share to the forces necessary to propel the swing.

. The swing is shown as mounted on a ground supported portable framework made up of crossbar'or beam 3* and truss bars 4. This is the preierred arrangement but it is within the scope of llel: support, memberspivo ally depending-from.

he sides. of. he. suppor ing member at the cent rthereofz, a. yoke.- depend-in from the:- center of. the: suppor n member at: one end thereof, a seat frame mountedbetween the. support; members adjacent; to the lower endsthereot'and; disposed: at; right; angles. thereto, seats carried by said. frame, an elongated foot treadle pivoted at. its center to, thelower extremities of the sup port. members. and: having its: endsdisposed be-- neath theseats, arigid link-having one end pi-v otedto said treadl'e at a pointon one side of the plane of the support members and its otherendspivoted to the yoke which is disposed on the opposite side of theplane of said support members so that the link extends diagonally of the support members, a pair-of reinforcing braces connecting one side of saidseat frame on one side of the plane of the support, members to said support-members and the other side of said seat frameonthe opposite side of said plane to the support members, said bracesv being positioned-offset from the plane, of movement of the linkand handle bars'carried by? said braces; MELV-m' HUNT."

Roseanne-ins: CITED.

file, of this patent:.

STATES PATENTS The following-references are. of; record in the Number Name Date- 3301,306- Fellows Nov. 10', 1885 336;080- Bauer Feb. 1 6', 1886 452E085? Johnson: Aug. 4, 1891 1,254,890 Doug-lass: Jan. 29,- 191-8 1,915,262.. Evans: Oct. 2/, 1934 1 ,975,463 Jones Oct. 2; 1934 2,402,249 Hunt June 18; 1946* 

